2 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



hungry stock. Leaves and the tender growth of shrubs and young trees 

 are often eaten in great quantities, and in times of scarcity cattle get 

 astride of young trees bending down the tops so as to reach the leaves and 

 twigs. Sheep eat the greatest variety of plants and thus where they feed 

 closely are valuable aids in the clearing of a new country. They eat briars, 

 elders and sprouts of stumps, but will leave some things which they do not 

 like. The weeds that are thus left have an excellent chance to spread and 

 in time occupy much of the ground once covered by the nutritious and 

 edible plants which have been removed. Here we see one of the most ex- 

 cellent reasons for the interference of man in removing the weeds and in 

 encouraging the introduction of the more valuable fodder plants. While 

 these early native pastures and meadows are of incalculable value to the 

 pioneer, without some care they soon deteriorate. 



In times of great scarcity of feed in a new country, farmers used to fell 

 trees that cattle might eat the twigs, or "browse," which contain much 

 starch and protoplasm stored away by the trees ready to be used in giving 

 the young growth a start on the approach of warm weather. 



Michigan has no native species of clover. 



NATIVE BEE PLANTS. 



In Michigan there is a very large number of plants which furnish a 

 good quality of honey. If the species is abundant in any region, it usually 

 becomes known to the apiarist as a good bee plant ; if not abundant it very 

 likely fails to attract attention. A plant may be rare or important in one 

 region and abundant in another. In autumn, asters and golden rods are 

 known as excellent bee plants, because some few of the many species in 

 the State are plentiful in nearly every neighborhood, but the same sorts 

 of 'asters or golden rods do not everywhere throughout the State furnish a 

 great amount of the honey. As a rule those plants which produce odor- 

 ous or showy flowers afford honey and will be visited by honey bees unless 

 the flower is of a shape which makes it impossible for the bee to reach the 

 food. * 



Probably in the State there are of native plants, introduced weeds and 

 field crops, a thousand species which furnish excellent food for bees. This 

 is nearly one hundred times as many as the bee keeper has in mind, 

 unless he has given unusual attention to the subject. 



Our open low lands furnish a large proportion of the bee pasture ; the 

 forest some; the weeds and some of the field, garden and orchard crops a 

 fair amount. Extremely dry or very wet weather are both unfavorable to 

 the yield of honey. Drainage of the swamps and the clearing of waste 

 places are unfavorable to the interests of the bee keeper. 



As the botanist now looks at the subject, colors and odors are mere 

 advertisements to call the attention of insects to the rich supplies of food 

 in store for them. It may be said that the honey is there for the bees, 

 but primarily it is there for the good of the plant, secondarily for the 

 good of the insect. Had good old Dr. Watts lived in our day, he would 

 have no doubt written his familiar verse in this way : 



How doth the little busy bee 



Improve each shining hour! 

 By carrying pollen day by day 



To fertilize each flower. 



